No More Hug-A-Terrorist

How hard is it to understand that radical Islamist jihadis have declared war on the West? In simple English this means: they will find you and kill you wherever and whenever they can.

Time and again, many of us concerned Muslims have highlighted the dangers of political Islam/Islamism, which stems from one of three sources: the Muslim Brotherhood, Wahhabi/Salafism or Khomeinism.

The West has been asleep at the wheel, waffling about how to address the issue with "sensitivity." Calling out the truth should never be subject to political correctness.

The world needs to take the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to task and challenge it about what it is doing to stem the tide of violence emanating from the Muslim world. The world needs to understand that ISIS is not trying to set up a Caliphate. OIC is the Caliphate.

The terrorist attacks at an airport and Metro station in Brussels have by now claimed at least 31 dead and 300 wounded.

Shocking, sickening and appalling -- but surprising? No.

How hard is it to understand that radical Islamist jihadis have declared war on the West? In simple English this means: they will find you and kill you wherever and whenever they can.

Why? Because the Islamists have pinpointed the West to be "Dar al Harb" (land of war), a concept that allows them to justify killing anyone on this land. You, me and everyone in between -- from the USA across to Canada, the UK and Europe.

Just this year, there have been terrorist attacks all over the globe, including Paris, Turkey, San Bernardino, Israel, Toronto, Ivory Coast and yesterday in Belgium. Whether carried out by groups or so called "lone wolves," these attacks are not isolated and have one thing in common.

They are all the result of a dangerous, violent and sick ideology. Time and again, many of us concerned Muslims have highlighted the dangers of political Islam/Islamism which stems from one of three sources: the Muslim Brotherhood, Wahhabi/Salafism or Khomeinism. This ideology has been on the rise for 35 years while the West has been asleep at the wheel, waffling about how to address the issue with "sensitivity." Calling out the truth should never be subject to political correctness.

How are we Muslims dealing with this ongoing terror in the name of our faith? Social media tells us a lot. There are the usual deniers and apologists; there is a comparison that "while we show solidarity for Brussels, we must simultaneously remember every other country of the world," hence watering down the impact of the horror and carnage that has just taken place in Belgium and showing a rancid face of inhumanity and deflection from the real issue.

Then the victim ideology kicks in and it's all about the fear of a backlash. I say let's speak out, take responsibility and deal with the backlash -- it will be worse if we remain silent.

Added to this are people like the repulsive British politician, George Galloway, who says Europe is to blame for what has happened. No one wants to touch the real issue.

The real issue is that this violence will continue and get much worse unless all of us stand up and acknowledge the ugly virus within us and say no to armed jihad. All of us, in once voice, need to denounce and condemn armed jihad as a seventh-century construct, not applicable in this day and age.

How have media addressed the issue? They immediately brought in "experts" to analyze the motives of the attackers to smithereens. There is nothing left to analyze. It is simple: It is a war against us. Let us stop the talking heads and take some action.

Political correctness should not trump the truth.

To bring home this point: Following an attack on two Canadian military officers in Toronto on March 14, 2016, I was invited the next day by a local TV station to comment. At first, the media did not wish to publish the words spoken by the attacker: "Allah made me do it." The next day, the news reported that the attacker had "mental health issues." Again, no surprise here. Mental health issues are a good "fallback." But I said on the news that if a person has the wherewithal to find a specific military location and attack two officers, he is capable of being a terrorist.

Once again, we failed to connect the dots. The CTV News clip of my interview never made it to the internet. Are they not able to handle the truth?

Following a terrorist attack on two Canadian military officers in Toronto last week (left), the media initially did not wish to publish the words spoken by the attacker: "Allah made me do it." Following yesterday's bombings in Brussels, the media immediately brought in "experts" to analyze the motives of the attackers. There is nothing left to analyze. It is simple: It is a war against us.

Our leadership, meanwhile, has developed a philosophy of "hug-a-terrorist" and deflecting the conversation into a politically correct Kumbaya mode.

On October 22, 2014, I wrote an open letter to Canadians on my blog. In this I made some clear suggestions about the dangers we face, and solutions. The backlash was fast and furious, not only from Muslims but from bleeding-heart white liberals -- those who do not help our cause by promoting the victim ideology.

So, once again we are standing where we were many years ago, but worse off because hundreds more civilians have been slaughtered in the radical Islamist war against the West.

Countering this armed jihad is our responsibility because the problem emanates from the House of Islam and the lives of our next generations are at stake here.

There are solutions. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which has a membership of 57 Muslims states spread over four continents, is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations. The world needs to take the OIC to task and challenge it about what it has done or is doing to stem the tide of violence emanating from the Muslim world. The world needs to understand that ISIS is not trying to set up a Caliphate. The OIC is the Caliphate. Its members conveniently look away in face of blatant terrorism because their only focus is to dislodge Israel and condemn the West.

We cannot let the OIC speak for us. We face a simple choice: We can either speak out ourselves or wait for Mr. Trump to be elected and he will do it for us.

Raheel Raza is president of the Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow and founding member of the Muslim Reform Movement.

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18 Reader Comments

Faust • May 20, 2016 at 11:04

I am delighted that Ms. Raza wrote not one word citing Jews or Israel, or how the existence of a Jewish state in the Holy Land is the cause of the rise in world wide Muslim terror.

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Stephen • Mar 26, 2016 at 11:08

"... many of us concerned Muslims have highlighted the dangers of political Islam/Islamism, which stems from one of three sources: the Muslim Brotherhood, Wahhabi/Salafism or Khomeinism."

The source of this is simple: the Koran. Islam needs a reformation and renounce the over 170 calls to murder "unbelievers", who just happen to be most of the world's population.

Since the 8th century, Islam has been the cause of 270,000,000 murders. India alone suffered over 80 million deaths by Islamic invasion and subjugation. Muslim generals kept serious records of beheadings, slaves, intentional crippling, and so on.

Until we finally acknowledge that "the religion of peace" is anything but that, we in the West are doomed. Until Muslims finally acknowledge this, Islam will remain a violent, intolerant and aggressive religious/political system.

Radical Muslim does not apply to Jihadis; they are simply following their holy book. "Radical Muslim" should apply to a Muslim who refuses the calls to arms and discrimination within the Koran. And they appear to be small in number.

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Ron • Mar 24, 2016 at 01:59

In today's world it is hard to believe Trump will not catch a bullet (or several) before he ever gets into the White House. Seeing what has already happened in the U.S., we can surmise there are enough armed fanatics on the loose to take care of that job many times over. Everyone from liberals to illegal immigrants to Muslims would at least quietly welcome that convenient solution. Expect trouble for Trump soon, followed by its logical consequences.

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Richard Noll • Mar 23, 2016 at 21:49

Thank you, Ms. Raza, for your valuable insight in the above article. As you noted, the warning about jihad is not new. Does anybody remember the excoriation Brigitte Bardot was subjected to when she raised a voice about the tide of Muslims immigrating twenty to twenty-five years ago? She was correct when she pointed out that the European state as they know it then, and its culture, was going to change. Yet nary a finger was lifted to oppose the influx because of the fear of intolerance. It was a trickle then compared to now. The serpents are still lying: let all types of constrictors do to those who believe that what they are doing in the name of Allah is warranted and justified. Ironically, may God have mercy on their souls.

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Phillip McIntosh • Mar 23, 2016 at 20:13

Raheel Raza, you are a breath of fresh air with an insight into what is really going on and how we (all western nations) should deal with this problem starting with getting out of denial mode and facing the truth. I especially liked your line: "Our leadership, meanwhile, has developed a philosophy of "hug-a-terrorist" and deflecting the conversation into a politically correct Kumbaya mode." How true. Keep up the good work. I'll be following your efforts.

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steven L • Mar 23, 2016 at 17:49

China, Russia, the whole west, India and S America, all have the same problem. No one wants to lead or solve the problem. They all have personal interests! Are there any adults. Those who are offering solutions are called immature, insane or lack political "savoir faire". Those who have "savoir faire" (politicians) are Inept, Incompetent and Impotent. So we the people are on our own but need to be disarmed!

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steven L • Mar 23, 2016 at 17:37

For the socialists of the world, Islam is their solution. But everything else must be destroyed first.

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Sharon Maclise • Mar 23, 2016 at 14:35

"The CTV News clip of my interview never made it to the internet." This is typical. In April 2015 City TV in Edmonton phoned me, asking for an interview. I had been the spokesperson for a rally to Stop the deportation of Omar Khadr to Canada so they would come to me for the "opposing" view on Khadr issues on occasion. I had wasted my time on interviews that were never published or twisted so badly so that my words were unrecognizable, so I was adamant with the reporter that, unless the interview was going to run, I would not waste my time. He assured me that his producer was absolutely committed to running the interview or selected parts and that they were going to do it as a piece set against an interview w/Khadr's lawyer. It was a good interview and, although outspoken in my views, I made sure nothing offensive or overtly controversial was said. Still, the interview was never aired. The interview with Dennis Edney was. I was furious; the reporter would not return my calls. Clearly the "liberal bagmen" decided it was too much of a risk airing an opposing view to the Khadr sycophancy.

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Michael Dable • Mar 23, 2016 at 14:00

In 610 AD Muhammad claimed to have had a visit from Gabriel, who according to Jewish teaching sat at the left of God, (this was not unusual at that time hundreds of people claimed something similar) and he ordered him to preach God's message to the Arabs of Mecca. They did not just laugh at him but were completely hostile so he decided in 616 to migrate to Medina. Not many people there accepted him as God's prophet either until Mecca sent 1000 warriors to protect a rich caravan travelling from Syria in 624 AD. Muhammad sent an army of just 300 men who defeated the warriors from Mecca, he shouted from the roof tops that this was the will of Allah, and look what it has resulted in.The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation - "57 MUSLIM STATES SPREAD OVER FOUR CONTINENTS" Which European country will make it 58?Make no mistake about it, they have progressed from zero to 57 in exactly the same way as they are currently deploying themselves today!!!!!

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Linda • Mar 23, 2016 at 11:59

Thank you Raheel Raza for speaking the truth in love and helping everyone to come to terms with the uncomfortable truth that this ideology has chosen evil and all the wickedness that entails. May the living God who sent you forth on this brave mission of peace bless you and protect you.

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Herman • Mar 23, 2016 at 09:53

Indeed how hard is it to understand that Islam is the cause of all these problems?

"Time and again, many of us concerned Muslims have highlighted the dangers of political Islam/Islamism, which stems from one of three sources: the Muslim Brotherhood, Wahhabi/Salafism or Khomeinism."

Wow.... nice example of takkyia!!!

Islam is created by a murderer, a robber, a rapist and a paedophile, proclaiming himself as the example for mankind, with a book full of verses along the lines:"I will cast terror in the hearts of the infidels""Kill the infidels""Kill the Jews and the Christians"

And you are looking for the cause of terror problems???

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Margaret • Mar 23, 2016 at 09:39

Thank you, Raheel, for being brave enough to name this evil and ask us all to stand up to it. I believe liberals like myself are the ones most to blame- through our silence of unwillingness to be politically incorrect, we have given fuel to both the Trumps and the terrorists. I hope that liberal minded people everywhere, whether Muslim or not, will address this issue directly and demand that violence not be preached by any religion. Best wishes as you fight for the humanist ideals that our Canadian society seems to have sadly decided are optional.

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bolt • Mar 23, 2016 at 08:28

For those who know little about the history of the world--from Mecca to London only--during the period from the 6th Century through mid-1500s, the Grand Caliphate was real. It spanned from Mecca to Spain and everything in between. Damascus was the center of the Caliphate. The entire scope of Islam was established by the force of conquest and with the blade of the scimitar. Islam flourished and from time to time, there was tolerance of infidels. In fact, Moises Maimonedes, one of the most renowned Jewish scholars of the time was from Spain. The periods of tolerance were exceptions, however. And the influence and authority of Islam began to fall of its own weight--the stories of El Cid are all about the early Reconquest. There reestablishment of local hegemony was gradual--Seville in 1212 and Granada in 1492. This marked the end of the Reconquest for Spain. The conquest has started all over. And the leadership of Europe and the rest of the West has played a huge role in what could eventually, and maybe not to far into the future, be the end of Western Civilization.

Ms. Raza has stated the obvious that the majority of Western leadership is unwilling to acknowledge. I have done my best to try to figure out what motivates apparently educated and sane people to deflect and ignore what stares them in the face. Usually, I am told to follow the money.

But how can money drive people to be so short-sighted? My conclusion? The politicians of Europe, Canada and the US have never done anything but spew ideology from a textbook. They are professional politicians who have never had to decide who to hire or fire, whether to plant wheat, soybeans or leave land fallow. Everything to them is an experiment to test a new or wasted theory, or to hold onto a position that the hoi polloi are leaving behind because the hoi polloi are tired of theory, because they live in reality.

Do I know Muslims who are as much American and Canadian that I? Yes. They are generally from Iran and escaped the terror of Khomenei just in time. Are they likely to be the subject of Fatwas? Yes, but they understand what is at stake.

Somebody better get a grip...and very soon.

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jane • Mar 23, 2016 at 08:10

Wise words from Ms Raza, but she is a rational voice in the PC wilderness which is apparently occupied by ostriches masquerading as political leaders. Two predictable responses to the carnage in Brussels from leaders here in the UK:David Cameron avers that terrorism has nothing-to-do-with-immigration;Nicola Sturgeon proclaims that Moslems now face a double burden.Here we go again: denial, denial,denial spliced with a generous dollop of cognitive dissonance.

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Hanna • Mar 23, 2016 at 07:48

FINALLY someone has the courage to tell the TRUTH!!! Thank you! Thank you! Miss Raheel Raza!!! For once, I have nothing to add to this MUST READ article ( a rare occasion for me ). I only hope that someone, besides me, is listening and that IT IS NOT TOO LATE. So far, POLITICAL CORRECTNESS is putting an end to Western Civilization, and Barbarism is taking over. Thanks again Miss Raheel Raza and Gatestone --- A GREAT ARTICLE!!!

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expatmama • Mar 23, 2016 at 06:59

Thank you for pointing out what should be the obvious. I am sick of the media prancing out political scientists, imams and politicians that say Islam is a religion of peace. It is not obviously. What can be done? Maybe regular Muslims need to get out there and protest and say this is not our religion. Surely we can get a group together?

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Brien Doyle • Mar 23, 2016 at 06:16

To domesticate Islam would be to reject the majority of the dogma and tenets from the only book of Islam, the Koran.

Islam, with its billion+ majority will just kill your type along with the kaffirs.

The author does know that the 'hug-a-Muslim' is absurd but then has yet to realise that even hard talk cannot and will not phase them in the least.

Remember Teddy? He said talk softly, and carry a big stick! Use the damned stick!

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jude meritus Brien Doyle • Mar 27, 2016 at 14:49

Every organisation and every person that follows Mohammed faithfully would need to reform. That means, pure and simple, leaving Islam as many millions have already done by believing in Jesus Christ the God of Love. ISIS is the reformation of Mohammedanism which follows a god of Hate. As there should be no compulsion in religion those who choose no faith would at least no longer be a threat to their neighbours.

Robert Levinson, 67, an American citizen, is a retired DEA and FBI agent. In 2007, while researching a cigarette smuggling case as a private investigator, he was abducted in Iran and has since been held hostage.